Combination signal and train-stopping apparatus.



1%. 883,350; PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908.

A. L. RUTHVEN! COMBINATION SIGNAL AND TRAIN STOPPENG APARATUS= APPLICATION FILED JB'KE15,F9()7,

2 SHEETS--SHEET L No. 883,850. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. ApL RUTHVEbL COMBINATION SIGNALA ND 'TRAIN STOPPING API'FARATUfi APPLICATION FILED JUKB 15.1907.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

a paratus ,.in which the signals and apparatus ALF ED RUTHVEN, or TOPEKA, KANSAS.

COMBINATION SIGNAL AND TRAIN-STOPPING'APPARATtl'S.

Nof 883,350.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March- 31, 1908.

Application filed June 15, 1907. Serial No. 379,177.

To all whom it' lleay concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. RUTHVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Combination Signal and Train-Stoppin Apparatus, of which the following is a speci cation.

invention relates to improvements. in combined signals and train stopping apare carried on thetrain,an'd-my o'bgects are, first, to notify the engineers of two trains when the latter are within a given distance of each otherso that precautionary measures may be taken-to avert collision ;-'second, to indicate by the signals upon eachtrain in which direction the other train is traveling;

third, toindicate by thesignals the approach of the traintoan open switch, and fourth, to

automatically stop the train should the en-T gineer fail to heedthe signals.

,In the accompanying drawings I have.

shown the preferred form of theinvention and thebest method of appl ing the prihciples thereof; but it is to he understood that Ido not limit myself to the details of construction shown as it is obvie us that changes such as might suggest themselves to ersons skilled in the art'may be made wit out departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. i

Referring'now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention: Figure 1 represents a diagram of a track divided into blocks with a car or locomotive upon thetraok equipped with myimproved apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail perspective views of a manuallywperable switch in its.

operative'and inoperative ositions; Fig. 4 is an elevation of a thrott e and means for automatically closing the,same. Fig. 5 is a broken sideelevation ofthe locomotive and trolley employed in carrying out the inven tion.

1 designates a track, the rails of which are divided into blocks of suitable length by in sulation points 2, the points of one rail being arranged alternately with respect to those on the opposite rail so the blocks-will overlap. 5

i 3 designates a third rail or a continuous conductor, arranged between the rails of the track and provided with offsets 4 arranged, preferably, opposite the insulation points 2.

The upper surface ofsaid rail'is higher than the surface ofthe track rails for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

5 designates a car or locomotive provided with a trolley arran ed to travel upon the third rail. Said trolley-consistsof a bar 6 and a roller 7, which'latter has a centrallydisposed groove 8 for guiding it upon the third rail. Bar 6 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 9'so that its ends may swing later ally to permit roller 7 to follow offsets 4 and actuate a pole-changer as hereinafter described. The ends of bar 6 are also free to move up and down under tension so that roller 7 may accommodate itself to any un dulations which may exist in the up er sur' face of the third rail. up and down movement,- pin 9 is secured to an insulated transverse rock-shaft 10 pivotally mounted in the. frame of the l0comotive. Trolley-bar 6 is normally heldin alinement with the third rail by means of a retractile spring .11, the front threaded end of which extends through the frame of the locomotiveand is provided with a thumbscrew 12 for regulating the tension of said spring.:

R0 1 r 7 1s reliably held in contact with the third rail by an insulated transverse bar 13 en aging the under forward portion of the tro lay-bar, and caused to exert upward pressure thereon by a pair of expansionsprings 14. The downward movement of roller 7 is limited so that it will not contact with crossing or switch rails, by an adjustable stop 15 arranged beneath the under rear ortion of the trolley-bar and provided wit 1 nuts 16 which engage its threaded ends for the'pur-- pose of adjusting said stop up or down. 17 designates the pole-changer which. is automatically actuated-by the trolley every time roller 7 passes around one of the oifsets 4,Which latter are. preferably of;long radius to give the. trolley and the pole-changer: ample time in which to o )erate. The connection between the trol 0y and the pole-- changer is made through the medium of a. pair of links 18 pivoted at their rear ends to the pole-changen'a- T-lcver 19 loosely connected to the forward'ends of the links and ivotally mounted upon a .pin 20pr0jectin-g rom the frame 5, and a crank-shaft 21 mounted in a bearin 22 and connected to the forward end of the T-lever and bar 6. Thus when roller 7 passes around one ofthe In order to al ow this otl'sets 4, while the locomotive is traveling in a certain direction'the forward end of the trolley-bar will be swung laterally, and through the instrumenta-ility of T-lever 19 and one of the links 18, successively swing the arms of the pole-changer into engage nalswithin the locomotive cabs, whereas if the pole-changer upon the following train were not automatically actuated upon entering the block, no signal would be given because the same poles of the batteries are connected with tl e third rail and would thus neutralize each other.

The signals above referred to, consist of a lamp 24 and a bell 25, arranged in what I will term a combination visual and audible signal circuit consisting of a wire 26, a battery 27, a contact terminal 28, and an armature 29, which latter is normally held away from terminal 28 by a retractile spring 30, so that said circuit will be normally open.

Should two trains, however, enter the same block, a main current will be closed by the trolleys, so that current from a main battery 31, in said circuit, will energize an electromagnet 32 also in the-main circuit and cause said magnet to attract armature 29 into engagement with terminal 28.

The main circuit may be traced beginning with the third rail 3, through the trolley to a wire 33, to one arm of the automatic polechanger, through a wire 34, through magnets 35 32, respectively, through a wire 36 to one arm of a manuallyoperable pole-changer 37, to the main battery 31, wire 38, an armature 39, a contact terminal 40, a wire 41, the other arm of the pole-changer 37, a wire 42; a main switch 43, a wire 44, the other arm of the automatic pole-changer, and a wire 45 to the running gear of the locomotive, whereby communication is made with the track rails. This circuit is normally open by reason of there being no electrical connection between the track rails and the third rail.

Should two trains traveling in the same direct-ion enter the same block, the engineers will be notified as to who is in advance by the visual signal in the first locomotive remaining clear, while a translucent target; preferabl r colored red, will be thrown in front of the lamp in the following locomotive. T he operation of the target on the following locomotive will occur by reason of the fact that it enters the block last, and hence the lateral movement of its trolley, effected by the off- "set 4 at the beginning of said block, will oci; saaeee cur while the trolleyon the preceding locomotive is traveling upon a straight portion of the third rail.

The operation of the target'is effected as follows: As the trolley on the second locomotive sweeps around the offset. 4 it will,,

through the intermcdiacy of the connecting parts cause the arms of the automatic polechanger to successively engage the contacts 23 and thus intermittently close comnumication between the main circuits on both locomotives, so that the signals on each will be intermittently operated. But in addition to the main circuit on the rear locomotive being closed, the target-actuating circuit thereon will also be closed and thus intermittently mam current will pass through said wires and energize the solenoid 49, which in turn will operate the target. hen the target circuit is broken the target will be thrown back to normal position by a retractile spring-'52.

In addition to providing the signals, above described, I also equip each locomotive with a motor circuit for cont-rolling the throttle and the air-brakes, so that the locomotives will be automatically stopped should the engineers fail to heed the signals. Said motor circuit consists of battery 53, a wire 54 leading from one pole thereof to a motor 55, a wire 56 leading from the motor to a resilient contact 57, a-contact terminal 58, which is normally engaged by the resilient contact 57, a wire 59, a manually-operable switch 60, a wire 61, an armature 62, a latch 63, and a wire 64 leading to the opposite pole of the battery. This circuit is normally open by reason of the fact that the free end of armature 62 is normally held in engagement with an insulation point on latch 63, but when magnet 35 is energized by reason of the main current passing t-heretl'irough, it will attract armature 62, causing it to push latch 63 back against the action of its spring 63 so that the armature will be permitted to engage the exposed end of the latch. and close the motor circuit. W hen this occurs the motor will be operated by the resultant current until the insulated end 65 of a lever 66 is swung down wardly into-engagement with the resilient contact 57 and breaks the current by forcing said contact away from terminal, The operation of the lever is effected by the motor through the intermediacy' of two cogwheels 67 US, the former of which is mounted upon the motor shaft, while the latter is mounted upon the stem 69 of two valves 70 71'.- Valve 70 controls the flow of motive fluid through a pi 72, leadin either from the locomotive boilfr or the airrake system of the train to a hose connection 73 communieating with a pipe 74, leading toa cylinder 75 provided at one end with exhaust-ports '6,

and 'votally secured at said end to a bracket aid cylinder is provided with a plunger 78 pivotally connected at its outer end to a link 79 pivotally secured to the throttle 80.

Link 79 extends through a hole 81 in the latch-rod 82 of the throttle and when the lat ter is open, as indicated by dotted line a, the

link 79 and the cylinder 75 occupy the same 'relative position to each other as shown in Fi' 4, with the-exception that the plunger segment 83 and close the'throttle.

Should the engineer desire to immediately open the throttle, he may do so by opening switch 60, restoring lever 66 to normal to close valve 70, and opening a valve 84 to permit the'motive fluid to exhaust from cylinder throughpipe 74 and an exhaust pipe 85 "communicating with .pipe 74 and controlled by the valve 84. from interfering with the free operation The plunger is prevented of the throttle, when there is no motive fluid in cylinder 75, by admitting the outer atmosphere to said cylinder through a port 86, so that a vacuum will not be formed there- ,in when the plunger is pushed inwardly. Port 86 is normally closed by an inwardly opening check or leaf valve 87 to prevent the air from exhausting through said port.

The brakes are simultaneously set with the closingof the throttle by air under pressure passing through a by-pass 88 communicating with the air-brake system and controlled by valve 71.

Lever 66 is adjust-ably secured to stem 69 by a set-screw 66* so that its free end may the set close to contact 57 when it is desired to only open valves 70 71 part way, it being readily understood that when said valves are only partly opened the motive fluid will act upon the throttle and the air-brakes gradually so that the train will not be abruptly checked. Should it be desirable to have two trains pass over the saine block, While traveling in the same direction, the motor circuit may be out out by opening switch 60 which is a duplicate of switch 43.

hen the direction of the train is reversed to that shown in the lrawings the arms of the manuallyoperated pole changer 37 are shifted into engagement with contact point 37. each other, come uponthe same block, their Hence when two trains approaching respective batterieswill be. oppositely connected so that the'current will flow through ,the circuit through both trains, and thus continually operate the signal devices. By

thus keeping the signals in continual operation the engineers will be notifi'ed that they are approaching head on, so that they may take precautionary measures to avert a collis'ion.

When the atmospheric conditions are such that the battery 31 will not supply sufficient voltage, I cut out said battery and cut in a dynamo 89 by closing-a manually-operable switch 90, so that a circuit will be established from the dynamo through a wire 9], switch 90-, a wire 92, aresistance-coil 93, a signallight-94, a terminal contact 95, an armature 96, a wire 96, a relay v97', 3. wire 98, a rheostat '99 for regulating the voltage, and back to the dynamo through a wire 100.

The passingof the current through relay 97 will energize the sameand cause it to draw armature 39 away tromterminal 40,

and thus automatically out out battery 31.

The'end of armature 39 is in constant engagement with theinsulated end of'a switch 101, hence when it is attracted by relay 97 it will'throw said switch into contact with a two trains upon the same block the current,

instead of assing through the resistancecoil 93, will follow the easier path to the main circuit through a wire 103, a relay 104, a wire 105, switch 101, and terminal 102. As the current passes through relay 104 it will energize the same so that it will attract armature 96 away from terminal 95, and thus ex tinguish the lamp 94. The current will then return to the dynamo from the main circuit through wire 36, one of the arms of the polechanger 37, a wire 197, wire 96, relay.97, wire 98, rheostat 99, and wire 1 00.

Switch 43 consists of a plate 108, an arm 109 projecting therefrom, a handle 110 pivotally secured at its lower end to said arm, and a resilient bifurcated contact 111 for trio- 1 tionally engaging the handle and normally holding the switch closed. Handle 1.10 is provided with a target 112, one side of which is white, while the opposite side is preferably colored red.. Hence when the switch is thrown open, see Fig. 3, to break the main circuit for the purpose of interrupting communication between the trains, the red side of the target will be in view to remind the engineer of saidinterruption.

Pole-changer 37 is provided'with a pair of binding-posts 113, so that a telephone circuit may be established betweentwo trains in the same block if desired.

The signals in the cab will be actuated onv the approach of the train to an open switch by reason of the fact that the main. circuit will be closed through a wire 114, the middle rail, a Wire 115, the switch rail 116, and the main rail against which the switch rail is thrown.

Having thus described my invention vrl I claim is: x

1. In an apparatus of the character dc scribed, a series of sectional conductors ranged along. the track,- suitable connecting means with the train, a circuit, an automatically operable pole changer in said circuit, means at intervals alon the track for automatically shifting the po e-chan er, a visual signal which is-operated by the c osing of .the circuit, and atarget-which is thrown i in front of the visual signal each time the circuit is closed and the p0le-'changer is shifted.

2-. In an apparatus of the character described, sectional conductors arranged along the track, suitable connecting means with the train, a circuit, an automatically-open able pole-changer in said circuit, means at intervals along the track for automatically shiftingthe pole-changer, a visual signal.

which is operated by the closing of the main circuit, a translucent target which is thrown in front of the visual signal each time the circuit is closed and the'pole-changer is shifted, and means for retracting said target each time the circuit is opened.

In an apparatus of the character described, a series of sectional conductors arranged along the track, suitable connecting means with the train, a main circuit, an au tomatically-op erable pole-changer in said circuit, means at intervals along; the track for automatically shifting the pole-changer, a combination audible and visual signal circuit which is closed by the closing oi the main circuit, and a colored translucent target which is thrown in front of the visual signal each time the combination circuit is closed and the pole-changer is shifted.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of sectional conductors arranged along the track, suitable connecting means with the train, a 'main circuit, an automaticallyoperable polc-changer in s.id circuit, means at intervals along the track for automatically shifting the pole-changer, a toggle connected with the throttle for closing the same, said toggle including a plunger and a link which latter extends through the throttle latch-rod, a cylinder in which the plunger operates, a pipe iorconductmg motive fluid to the c linder a valve for normally closing said pipe, a motor for opening said valve, a circuit containing said motor which circuit is closed by theclosing oi the main circuit, and means actuated by the mo- .tor for breaking its circuit after the valve has been opened. v

5. In an apparatus of the character dcscribcd, a series of sectional conductors arssaase ranged along the track, suitable connecting means with the train, a battery, a main circuit, an automaticallyoperabie polechanger in said circuit, means at intervals "he track ior automatically shifting hanger, i'neans connected with the this is for c osi g the sat-ice, a pipe fir conlid to the throttle closin normally closing sai ngsaid valve, a c

lI/Ol' which circuit. is e main circuit, and

closed by adjustab the motor for breaking its valve has been opened. 0 6. In an z-ter tie-- scribed, e rs arranged a ccting' means with. th

n circuit, an autonii changer in said, (Fl'i'C' along the track to; the pole-changer. a J, the throttle for closing the same including a plunger and a link wli t extends through the throttle latchpivotally mounted cylinder in whicr plunger operates, a pipe for condi'icting mctive fluid to the cylinder, a valve i'or nor: mally closing said pipe, a motor for opening said valve, a circuit containing said motor which circuit is closed. by the closing of the main circuit, a contact in the motor circuit,

and a lever actuated by the motor for opening said motor circuit. v

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of sectional conductors IF-a ranged along the tracl\','suitablc connecting means with the train, a battery, a main circuit, an autom'at'icallv-operable pole-changer in said circuit, means at intervals along the track for automatically shifting the polechauger, means connected nith the throttle tor closing the same. a pipe for conducting motive fluid to the throttle closing means, valve for normally closing said pipe, a motor tor opening said valve, a circuit containing said motor which circuit is closed by the closing otthc main circuit, 1. contactin the motor circuit, a lever actuated by the motor for opening said motor circuit. and means for adjustablv mounting said lever, tor the purpose described.

S. In an apparatus of the character dcscribcd, a series of sectional conductors arranged along the track, suitable (Ollilttiliig means with the train. a battery, a main circuit, an auiomatically-opcrnl lc pole-changer in said circuit, means at intervals along the track-tor 'automatically shifting the polechangcr, a pivotallv-mountcd cylinder, a plunger therein, means connecting said plunger-to the throttle and its latch, a pipe for conducting motive fluid to the cylinder, a valve For normally closing said pipe, :1 motor for opening said valve, and a circuit contain target adaptedtoswing infront of the ing said motor which circuit is closed by the closing of the mam circuit.

9. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a. main circuit, meanscarried by the train for automatically closing said main circuit, a motor circuit which is automatically closed by the main circuit, a motor within said circuit, a toggle connected with the throttle for closing the same, said toggle including a plunger and a link which latter extends through the throttle latch-rod, a cylinder. in which the plunger operates, a pipe for conducting motive fluid to the cylinder, and a valve which is geared to the motor for controlling the flow of fluid through the pipe.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a main circuit, means carried by the train for automatically closin'g said main circuit, a motor circuit which is automatically forming part of said motor circuit and normally bearing against a terminal contact, a motor within the motor circuit, means actuated by the motor for disengaging the resilient contact from the terminal contact, a toggle connected with the throttle for closing the same, said toggle including a plunger and a link which latter extends through the throttle latch-rod, a pivotally mounted cylinder in which the plunger operates, a pipe for conducting motive fluid 'to the cy inder, and a valve which is geared to the motor for corn trolling the flow of fluid through the pipe.

11. In anapparatus of the character 'described, a main circuit, means carried by the train for automatically closing said main circuit, a motor circuit including a motor, a resilient contact, a ternnnal contact, alatch having an lnsulation pomt and an exposed the insulation point; an electro-magnet in the main circuit for attracting the armature into engagement with the exposed point of the latch, and means actuated by the motor for forcing the resilient cont act out of engagement with the terminal contact.

12. In an'apparatus of the character described, amain circuit, an automatically-op- ,erable pole-changer in said circuit, means at intervals along the track for shifting the polechanger so it may intermittently close the main circuit, a isual signal circuit which is automatically closed. by the closing of the main circuit, a lamp in said circuit, a target circuit which is intermittently closed by the closing of the main circuit and the shifting of the pole-changer, and a target which is thrown in front of the lamp each time the tare get circuit is closed.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a signal light on the train, a target circuit including a series of contact points, means for sweeping across the contact points to intermittently close the circuit, a

closed by the main circuit, a resilient contact point, and an armature normally engaging.

a light, and means in the target circuit for actuating the target each time the circuit is closed. l

14; In an ap aratus of the character described, a signa light onthe train, a target circuit includinga'serie's of contact points, means for sweeping across the contact points to intermittently close the circuit, a transiucent-target adapted to swing in front of the signal light, means for normally. holding same inoperative, and a solenoid 1n thecircuit for actuating ,the target.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a main circuit including two contact terminals 40 102, a main battery circuit normally communicating with the main circuit and consisting of a battery, a circuit.wire leading thereto, a circuit wire 38 leading" therefrom, and an armature 39 communicat-. ing with wire 38 and normally engaging terminal 40, in combination with a dynamo circuit consisting of a manually-operable switch for opening and closing said circuit, a dynamo in the circuit, a resistance coil, a terminal contact 95, an armature 96 normally engaging contact 95, a lamp between the resistance coil and terminal 95, a relay 97 opposite armature 39 and adapted when energized to attract said armature and automatically interrupt the main battery circuit, a branch-wire, a switch 101 which is thrown int-o engagement with terminal 102 by armature 39 and automatically closes communication between the main circuit and the dynamo circuit, and a relay 104 communieating with the branch-wireand adapted to cut outthe lamp by drawing armature 96 from terminal 95. i

16; In an apparatus of the character de- 105 scribed, a main circuit including two contact terminals 40 102, a main battery circuit normally communicating with the main circuit ,and consisting of a battery, a circuit wire leading thereto, a circuit wire 38 leading therefrom, and an armature 39 communicating with wire 38 and normally engaging terminal 40, in combination with a dynamo circuit consisting of a manually-operable switch for opening and closing said dynamo-circuit, '115 a dynamo, a relay 9? which when energized attractslarmature 39 away from terminal -10 and thus autol'natically interru ts the battery circuit, and a switch 101 whlch is thrown by armature 39 into contact with terminal 102 and thus automatically establishes communication between the dynamo circuit and the main circuit.

17. In an apparatus of the character detrain for automaticall clgsing said main circuit, a motor cirhuit which is automatically closed by the main circuit, said motor circuit including a resilient contact normally bcar- I ing against a terminal contact, a motor with- 130 scribed, a main circuit, means carried by the said circuit, e lay-pass pipe communicating with the nir-brale system oi the tram, avalve for normally closn'ig and pipe provided with a stern, connections between t e motor and the valve-stem whereby the valve is opened by the motor, and a lever adjustably mounted upon the "mix" tern for disengaging the resiiient contact from the terminal contact.

l8.- E'n a irzztus of the character described; nieir on Quit, means carried by the train for autonizitically closing said main circuit, e niotor'circuit which is automatically closed by the main circuit, said motor circuit including a resilient contact normally bearing against a terminal contact, amotor With- 111 sold circuit, a by-pass pipe communicateeceso in with the eir oreke system the train, a

va ve for normally closing said pipe provided with a stem, cog 7 wheels connecting the motor and the valve-stern whereby the valve is opened by the motor, a lever on the valvestemfor disengaging the resilient contact from the terminal contact, and a manuallyoperohle switch in the motor circuit includ- 'ing a target, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'l'lix my signature,

in the presence of two Witnesses.

- ALFRED L. RUTHVEN.

Witnesses: I

' JAs. H. GUY,

DORA H. VVATKms.v 

